Arrival Advice: Passport Control & Immigration

What to Expect on the Plane to New Zealand

The first part of passing through Immigration and Passport Control is by filling out the Passenger Arrival Card. This narrow card should be handed to you on your flight to New Zealand.

Complete the form – you can check out our Passenger Arrival Card article for tips. Then keep the Passenger Arrival Card to hand in at the Passport Control desk when you land.

What to Expect at the Passport Control Desk

The setup of Passport Control is very similar to many other countries. You must queue for Immigration officers to check your passport, visa and passenger arrival card.

Your passport must be valid for at least three months after your intended departure date. You will also need a valid visa depending on which country you come from. (More information below).

Make sure you have the evidence/paperwork to support the requirements of your visa. For example, the Working Holiday Visa requires you to have sufficient funds for your stay in New Zealand, a return travel ticket/or sufficient funds to buy one, and certificate of your travel insurance. We recommend snapping up the cheap and comprehensive Working Holiday Plan insurance from OrbitProtect.

All the evidence might not be asked of you, but it’s always best to be prepared!

Do You Need a Visa?

You do not need a visa if:

• You are a New Zealand or Australian resident
• You are a Resident Permit holder
• You have an Australian passport
• A British passport holder who can provide evidence that they permanently reside in the UK. British citizens can stay in New Zealand for up to six months
• You are from a visa-waiver country (check the Immigration NZ website to see if your country is listed). In this case, you need to provide travel tickets or evidence of onward travel arrangements, and evidence of sufficient funds to support yourself. For example, a bank statement. You can stay in New Zealand for three months.

The NZETA

Remember, if you’re travelling to New Zealand as a visitor but do not require a visa, you still need to apply for the NZETA. Find out more in the What You Need to Know About the New Zealand ETA & Visitor Levy.

Not on the Waiver List?

If your country is not on the waiver list or you want to stay longer than three months (six months if British), then you will need to apply for a Visitor Visa. You can download the application form from Immigration NZ.

In New Zealand to Work or Study?

There are other visa options for working and studying in New Zealand, which often allow you to stay for at least a year. The most common visa for 18-30-year-olds is the Working Holiday Visa. Make sure you have a hard copy of your visa in case the Immigration officer asks for it.

What the Immigration Officer Might Ask You

After handing over your passport and passenger arrival card, the Immigration officer might ask you a few questions. It is likely that the officer won’t but it’s always best to be prepared, right? The questions you could be asked are:

Do you have anything to declare?

You will have to declare what you have stated on your Passenger Arrival Card. For example, if you have brought sports equipment, state that to the Immigration officer.

What is the purpose of your trip?

Basically say what your visa is: working holiday, visitor, etc.

Do you have a return ticket or sufficient funds for a return ticket?

Show the appropriate evidence, such as a hard copy of a recent bank statement or your outward travel ticket.

Do you have sufficient funds required for your visa?

Show the appropriate evidence, such as a hard copy of a recent bank statement.

Do you have any contacts in the country?

Give contact details if you know anyone in the country. If you don’t have a contact, no worries.

Where are you going to be staying for the first few days?

Have the address of your hostel on hand.

Where was your last destination?

State your home country or the last country you visited, if you are not coming straight from home.

Have you visited New Zealand before?

Do you have any food with you?

By this point, you shouldn’t have any food with you. There will be bins to dispose of any food.

How much cash do you have on you today?

If you have NZ$10,000+ or the foreign equivalent, then you’ll have to go through a Border Cash Report.

If all goes well, which we’re sure it will, you will get an Immigration NZ stamp in your passport. The passport and the Passenger Arrival Card will be returned to you, and you’ll be on your way!

At the eGate

Within the New Zealand international airports of Auckland, Queenstown, Christchurch and Wellington you can use the eGate if you hold an e-passport from New Zealand, Australia, UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, China, Netherlands or Ireland. This is instead of going to the Passport Control desk and speaking to a real human being.

The eGate kiosk reads your e-passport, asks you some simple questions, then issues you a ticket to use at the gate.

Insert your ticket at the gate, a camera will scan your face to see if it matches your passport. Take off anything that obstructs your face, like glasses. If you are successful, the gate will open! If not, usually due to a technical difficulty, see the Immigration officer at the desk.